Group based multicast in networks

Abstract

Group based multicasts may be provided. First, a request may be received. The request may comprise a receiver tag, a request source identifier, and a request multicast group identifier. Next, a source tag corresponding to the request source identifier may be obtained and then it may be determined that a group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from a source corresponding to the obtained source tag. In response to determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the obtained source tag, content may be received from the source at a multicast group corresponding to the request multicast group identifier. The content may then be forwarded to a receiver corresponding to the request.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving a request comprising a receiver tag, a request source identifier, and a request multicast group identifier; 
 obtaining a source tag corresponding to the request source identifier; 
 determining that a group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from a source corresponding to the obtained source tag; and 
 receiving, in response to determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the obtained source tag, content from the source at a multicast group corresponding to the request multicast group identifier. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forwarding the content to a receiver corresponding to the request. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request comprising a join request. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request comprising a IGMPv3 join request. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the source tag comprises obtaining the source tag from an Identity Services Engine (ISE). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the source tag comprises obtaining the source tag from information statically configured on a router. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the obtained source tag comprises determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the obtained source tag from a policy in an Identity Services Engine (ISE). 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the content from the source comprises receiving the content using Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) routing. 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 receiving a request comprising a receiver tag and a request multicast group identifier; 
 determining that a group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from a source corresponding to a source tag; 
 determining a source corresponding to the source tag; and 
 receiving, in response to determining the source corresponding to the source tag, content from the source at a multicast group corresponding to the request multicast group identifier. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising forwarding the content to a receiver corresponding to the request. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request comprising a join request. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the request comprises receiving the request comprising a IGMPv2 join request. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the source tag comprises determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the source tag from an Identity Services Engine (ISE). 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the content from the source comprises receiving the content using Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) routing. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus comprising:
 a memory storage; and 
 a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to:
 receive a request comprising a receiver tag, a request source identifier, and a request multicast group identifier, 
 obtain a source tag corresponding to the request source identifier, 
 determine that a group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from a source corresponding to the obtained source tag, and 
 receive, in response to determining that the group corresponding to the receiver tag is allowed to access content from the source corresponding to the obtained source tag, content from the source at a multicast group corresponding to the request multicast group identifier. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising the processing unit being operative to obtain forward the content to a receiver corresponding to the request. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit being operative to receive the request comprises the processing unit being operative to receive the request comprising a join request. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit being operative to receive the request comprises the processing unit being operative to receive the request comprising a IGMPv3 join request. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit being operative to obtain the source tag comprises the processing unit being operative to obtain the source tag from an Identity Services Engine (ISE). 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit being operative to obtain the source tag comprises the processing unit being operative to obtain the source tag from information statically configured on a router.